Wireless telephony for collecting tolls, conducting financial transactions, and authorizing other activities

Abstract

The following procedures describe the use of cellular telephones and other analog or digital wireless communication devices to conduct transactions and activities. These procedures effectively allow such devices to function as an electronic wallet, a wireless PIN pad, and a contactless Smart Card.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of transferring funds between different accounts comprising the steps of expanding the function of a service provider's central processing unit to include account and authorization information, entering a function code on the keypad of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device, sending the function code to the central processing unit of the provider which identifies the desired transaction, determining at the central processing unit whether a personal identification number is needed, and supplying the central processing unit with the personal identification number if needed, authorizing the desired transaction, determining the different accounts involved in the transaction, and confirming completion of the transaction. 
     
     
       2. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in claim 1 wherein the desired transaction involves a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       3. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in claim 1 wherein the desired transaction involves a variable amount, identifying the variable amount, and sending it to the central processing unit. 
     
     
       4. A method of verifying identity and authorizing access to a secured location comprising the steps of expanding the function of a service provider's central processing unit to include secure independent verification of a user's identity, entering a function code on the keypad of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device, sending the function code to the central processing unit of the provider which identifies the desired transaction as access to the secured location, determining at the central processing unit whether a personal identification number is needed, and supplying the central processing unit with the personal identification number if needed, authorizing the desired transaction, and confirming completion of the transaction. 
     
     
       5. A method of verifying identity and authorizing access to a secured location as in claim 4 wherein the step of authorizing the desired transaction includes communication with the secured location, and activation of the secured location to grant or deny access thereto. 
     
     
       6. A method of transferring funds between different accounts comprising the steps of expanding the function of a service provider's central processing unit to include account and authorization information, transmitting a function code of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device to the central processing unit of the provider which identifies the desired transaction, determining at the central processing unit whether a personal identification number is needed, and supplying the central processing unit with the personal identification number if needed, authorizing the desired transaction, determining the different accounts involved in the transaction, and confirming completion of the transaction. 
     
     
       7. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in claim 6 wherein the desired transaction involves a default amount at a pre-set price. 
     
     
       8. A method of transferring funds between different accounts as in claim 6 wherein the desired transaction involves a variable amount, identifying the variable amount, and sending it to the central processing unit.